Wire-hoop forming and applying machine.



C. A. LEE.

WIRE HOOP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, I9I4- 1,137,336. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEEI I 1| n um \k II I I N WITNESSES V [NVLN 70A.

621%, Elqarle ALee. W yg'dmte" I A TTORNEY.

c. A. LEE.

WIRE HOOP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 191

1,137,336. Patented Apr. 27', 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

CharlesAl EB.-

gm/1m,

A TTO'RNE Y.

lV/IDVESSES c. ApLEE.

WIRE HOOP FORMING AND APPLYING MACHINE.

APPLII IATION FILED JULY 29, 1914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHET 3.

INVENTOR. C1 axleSA'l. e B. BY

f A TTORNEY C. A. LEE.

WIRE HOOP FORMING AND AP PLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1914.

1,137,336. I Patented Apr. 27, 1915..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: 11v VEN TOR. CharlesALea.

-' A TTORNL Y.

UNITED STATES rnTnnT caries.

CHARLES A. LEE, OF NEENAH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GUSTA KALFAHS, 0F NEENAH, WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed July 29, 1914. Serial No. 853,875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Neenah, in the county of Winnebago and State of lVis'consin, have invented a new and useful Wire-Hoop Forming and Applying Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for applying a wire hoop upon a turned article of wooden-ware, such as pails of various diameters and tapers, forming a look upon the hoop, cutting the wire off of the required length for the hoop, and bending each end into a rightangled prong adapted to be driven into the wood of the pail being hooped.

It consists of a suitable frame for supporting .the mechanism, a conical block or form, for supporting the article to be hooped, a reel from which wire can be unwound as wanted, a wire gripper for seizing the wire and winding it a little more than once around the article being hooped, means for revolving said gripper, a hoop lock forming tool and a prong forming and wire severing tool, said tools to be brought into use in the order named.

The mechanism is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the left hand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevation of a variable tapered block upon which the article to be hooped is supported while the hoop is being applied, all but two of its covering staves being removed and a part of its stave securing flange at the larger end being in section. Fig. 6 is a plan of one of the covering staves for the conical block. Fig. 7 isv an end elevation of Fig. (3. Fig. 8 is a trans verse section through slots therein of the larger of the two heads upon which the covering staves are mounted. Fig. 9 is a plan of the outside of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan of a circular liange for holding the staves in position upon the heads. Fig. 11 is a plan of the smaller of the two heads. Fig. 12 is a front end elevation of the wire cutting and prong forming tool, mounted upon its swinging support. Fig. 13 is a transverse section of the wire reel andshowing its braking'means. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the locked ends of the wire of a hoop. Fig. 15

is a section diametrically of the larger gear wheel in the casing in which it revolves. Fig. 16 is an edge view of the intermediate gear wheel mounted upon a shaft which. extends from a flange in section that is secured to the frame front. Fig. 17 is a plan of the manner of moving two tools simultaneously 1n opposite directions. Fig. 18 is aplan of the main part of back piece of a wire gripper, the front part being broken away for showing the jaws, their operating cam and lever handle. Fig. 19 is a side elevation of Fig. 18, complete. Fig. 20 is a top View of Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is an end elevation of two wire prong forming spindles in their holders, and cog wheels by which they are re volved. Fig. 22 is a plan in dotted lines of the three gear wheels of the machine, and in heavy lines, the channeled casing in which the larger wheel is revolved. Fig. 23 is a section across the lock forming tool channel taken upon a line just in front of the stem of said tool in Fig. 2. I

Similar numerals and letters indicate like parts in the several views.

\Vhile the device is designed for forming hoops of wire upon turned articles of wooden-ware, it should be understood that in the use of the term pail, that it includes all articles of turned wood for which wire hoops are adapted. It will be understood that when pails are turned that are intended to have wire hoops applied, that a truss hoop is driven on, and remains there until the bottom has been inserted and the wire hoops applied, when it is removed for future use.

1 indicates a frame as is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, but no particular form is essential, .its base 2 extending rearwardly for forn'iing a support for the shaft upon which the pail is mounted while being hooped.

Mounted to slide in keepers 3 is a block 4, upon which is mounted for revolution in tubular box 5, a shaft 6, upon the front end of which a conical block 7 is mounted which can revolve with the shaft and move endwise with the block 4. The block at is provided with a lever 8, which for convenience in access. to its pivotal point, is connected by a rod 9 with a pivotal boss 10. Just above the lower end of lever 8, a rod 11 extends to and connects with the block 1. The lever extends upward to a convenient ,point forv the operator to reach. A latch 12is pivoted at 13 and is provided with a plurality of notches 14 for holding the lever in the desired position, and with a spring 15 for normally holding the latch closed. The purpose of this lever is for moving the block 7 endwise for adjusting the position of a pail thereon for receiving a Wire hoop near its top, and also one at its bottom, the notches 14 being arranged in the position required for so doing. Another notch can be made between those .for the purpose of adapting the machine for applying a middle hoop if desired. F or thepurpose of not obscuring the block 7 a pail thereon is indicated by dotted lines P. For revolving the wire gripping tool around the pail, gear Wheels are employed that are arranged as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 22, the right hand one 16 being mounted upon a shaft 17, which is journaled in the frame 1 and extends through the frame and hasupon its outer end a sprocket wheel 18. Near the other end of the frame another shaft 19 is mounted for revolution having upon it a sprocket wheel 20, a friction clutch pulley 21, clutch flange 22, and a clutch operating arm 23, which is arranged between collars 23 and is connected by a rod 24 with a clutch operating lever 25, pivoted at 26 to a holder 27 upon the frame 1. The shaft 19 is provided with a spline 19*, which engages the clutch flange 22. By operating this lever 25 the pulley 21 can be made fast or loose. A chain 28 runs around the wheels 18 and 2t, and is provided with a tightener pulley 29. The intermediate gear wheel 30 is mounted upon a stub shaft 3]., extending from a flange 32, which is secured to the frame 1. (Shown in Fig. 1G). The large gear 'wheel is a ring 33, which is arranged to be revolved within a channeled casing- 81:, the bottom of its channel being broken for the meshing of the intermediate gear 30 with the larger one, see Figs. 15 and 22 for the form of the easing, which is adapted to be secured to the frame 1 with screws 35. The gear wheel shaft 17 is provided with a crank 36, by which to turn it, so that it can be revolved either by hand or power. A reel 37 is arranged for revolution at the left of the frame, upon which wire 38 is wound. The reel is preferably made easily removable for the purpose of having a filled reel on hand to replace an empty one and prevent delay in the operation of the machine. This is effected by mounting the reel upon the shaft 39, which is provided with a square collar 40 fixed to the shaft outside of the reel head and forming threads 41 upon the opposite end of the shaft and also in the arm 42,

and" screwing the shaft into the arm and then screwing a nut 43 upon the shaft. 1 Upon removing the nut and unscrewing the shaft, an empty reel can beremoved and a.

filled one substituted. The reel is provided with a crank 44, outside of the collar 40, upon the round end of the shaft and the crank is made to turn the reel by extending a pin 45 from the crank into the reel head.

where it is loosely fitted. The crank is secured to the shaft by screwing a bolt 46 into the outer end of the shaft 39.

As it is necessary to give to the wire as it' is wound. around the pail various degrees of tension, pails for holding dry material requiring a less degree than those for holding liquids, it is necessary to apply abrake to the reel so that the wire can be drawn tightly around the pail. This is eflected by placing a washer (preferably in two parts, one of metal 47, and the other a compressible one, as leather, 'ber, &c., 48) between the reel and arm 42, and then by means of the square collar 40 screwing the shaft into the threaded bore of the arm 42 until the washer is compressed to the proper degree and tightening the nut 43 upon the outer end of the shaft 39. Between the reel and block 7, additional tension means is provided in two pulleys 49 and 50, which are mounted for revolution upon the frame 51, and which is pivotally mounted on the frame 1, at the point 52. The frame 51 is arranged to swing into different positions and can be held in one position by means of the latch 53, having a notch 54, for engaging the arbor of the pulley 49. The Wire from the reel is arranged to run from the reel around plurality of staves 61 (see Figs. 5 to 11 inelusive). The ware in a factory includes pails of'ditl'erent diameters and taper, and

it is necessary to have blocks for holding them of various tapers so as to accommodate pails of different sizes. The staves consist of pieces of wood of a suitable width and length curved outwardly in crosssection and each having a depending rib 63, and a depending curved tongue 62, the rib being provided with a straight lower edge of such width at its ends as will cause its free end to swing outward radially when the smaller head is moved lengthwise of the shaft 6. The large head 60 having been secured upon the shaft 6, the tongues of the severa'l'staves are placed in the slots 64 of the large head, which slots are of a form for fitting-around the curve of the tongues (see Fig. 8). The annular grooved flange 65 is then secured to the head (30 with screws 66. The groove 67 holds the staves upon the head, and as the circumference of the flange 65 is in near contact ,with the under surface of the staves, said staves, at the smaller end of the block cannot increase the circumference of the block at its smaller end so as to prevent the placing of a pail thereon. The head 59 is 1 spaced a little apart, forming a hub and a flange spaced from the hub and fitted in be tween the collars 70, making the end 72 of the rod, angularand adapted to receive a socket wrench as 73, by which the rod can be turned.

For winding the Wire around the pail in the process of forming the hoop, a wire gripper is used which is attached to the ring gear heel and is carried around with it. It consists olf a main or back piece 7 4, which is attached to the ring gear wheel 33, it having an arm ettmding downward for being also secured tlf reto. gral with it, a front piece 7 5, (broken away 'in Fig. 18,) between which two jaws 76 are pivotally mounted and between which jaws a cam 7 is mounted for oscillation, it being provided with an open ting arm or handle ,7 8. By raising the outer end of the handle,

an end of the wire from the reel can be inserted between the jaws through the slot 79, which extends from the bore 80 to the outer ends of the jaws, and then by pressing downward upon said handle the wire will be gripped, and in consequence of the form and position of the pivotal pointof the jaws the harder the pull upon the Wire, the tighter will be the grip of the jaws upon the wire.

The lock-forming tool is mounted to slide toward and from the conical block in the channel 81, The normal working position of the sliding rod of the tool is vertical with its jaws resting upon a pail and the axial line thereof in line with the axial line of the shaft 6, and it is to be moved to the right or left as the diameter of the pail requires for approaching that position. This sliding movement is made to take place simultane-imsly with that of the wire delivery device 55, by connecting an arm which extends from each by means of arod 82 with a disk 83, and attaching a crank 84 to the disk by which it may be turned. (See Figs. 1 and 17.) The lock-forming tool consists of a sliding piece 855, a supporting bar 86, pivotally mounted in said piece and having a tubular piece 87, through which a rod 88 is arranged to slide a limited amount. In the The back piece has inteinner end of the rod 88, a pair of jaws 89 are pivoted at 90, and are each provided with arms 91, which cross each other, and their tail ends, when the jaws are closed upon the wire, are just Within the circumference of the rod 88. A sleeve 92 is mounted to slide upon the rod 88 and engage with the arms 91 and close and hold the jaws closed. The sleeve is provided with links 93, which extend to and are pivoted at 94 to a lever 95, one end of which lever is pivoted upon a sleeve 96, secured by means of a set-screw 97 upon the rod 88. By operating this lever the sleeve 92 can be slid over the ends of the jaw arms and close and hold closed said jaws. Above or outside of the sleeve 96, a crank 98 is secured to the rod 88, by means of a set-screw 99. A wire having been wound around a pail upon the block 7, by means of the gripping tool, the lockforming tool is to be swung into a vertical osition with the crossed wires of the hoop lnclosed between the jaws 89, when a half turn is to be given to crank 98 and a lock as is shown in Fig. 14 will be formed.

After the lock is formed the lock forming tool is to be swung into a horizontal position and a device is swung into position for severing the wire and forming a prong upon each end for being driven intothe wood of the pail after the pail has been removed from the block 7. It consists of two similar spindles 100, mounted for revolution, each in a rectangular holder 0, having a round tapering end at, which acts as a shear in cutting the wire, said holders being mounted upona horizontally arranged plate 6, which plate is supported alongside of the frame 1, and the holders are secured to said plate with the T-shaped piece 7 and the screw 9. The plate e is arranged to swing in a horizontal plane upon the vertical shaft h, and is arranged for vertical adjustment by means of the nuts 71. Each spindle is a straight piece of round steel and has upon its rear end a cog wheel 7', the two wheels being in mesh and one being supplied with a handle is, by

which the two spindles can be revolved simultaneously. The cog vmeels are inclosed partly within bands Z, which connect with the back piece m, and a handle n is provided by which it can be swung into and out of its working position.

The outer ends of the spindles are each provided with a slot 0 across them of a width for easily receiving the wire of the hoop, and the tapering ends of the holders 0 have about (5/8) five-eighths of their ends back a quarter of an inch or more removed from their upper sides, so that whenthe spindles are turned into a position for the slots 0 to be horizontal, a wire can lie in a slot, and the taperingends of the holders will act as a shear for cutting the wire upon a partial revolution oh the spindl Th n the device is swung around upon a pail for operation, the slots are to be in the position shown in Fig. 21, at a slight angle from a horizontal and spaced a suitable distance apart for forming the prongs q, upon the hoop. Upon turning the spindles a half revolution nearly, and forming the prongs g, the slots 0 will be in the position shown in Fig. 12, and leaving theprongs in readiness;

for being driven into the wood of the pail. The hoop having been locked' around the pail it can be so left and another hoop made for the other end of the pail, when the block 7 must be moved lengthwise of the shaft 6, for adapting its position for a hoop upon its other end, when there are to be but two hoops. top hoop upon two pails, then change position of block and puta bottom hoop upon two pails and so on.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

'1. A wire ing machine, consisting of a frame for supporting the mechanism, a revoluble and longitudinally movable conical block mounted upon said frame for receiving the article to be hooped, a reel having wire thereon from which it may be unwound as wanted, a tension device applied to the wire for drawing it tightly around said articlebeing hooped, a gripping device adapted to receive the free end of the wire from said reel, and wind the wire around the article being hooped slightly exceeding one revolution and leaving the ends in close proximity and crossed, alock forming tool arranged to be swung into position for receiving the wires where crossed and to be revolved a half revolution and form a lock of the hoop, and a prong forming and wire severing tool consisting of two revoluble spindles, each having a slotted end and a shear alongside of each slot, the slot being adapted to form prongs upon the wire for being driven into the .wood of the article and the shears to sever the Wire upon a par.

tial revolution being given to said spindles.

2. In a wire hoop applying and look forming machine, a frame for supporting the mechanism, a longitudinally movable and revoluble conical block for receiving the article to be hooped mounted upon said frame, a ring spaced from said block and arranged for rev'olution'around the same, a wire grip ping tool secured to said ring and revoluble with it around said block, and means for re volving said ring independently of the revolutions of said block.

3. In a wire hoop applying and lock forming machine, a frame forsupporting the mechanism, a longitudinally movable and revoluble conical blockfor receiving the article to be hoopedmounted upon said frame, a ringhaving gear teeth outside thereof It saves time in hooping to place a hoop applying and lock form-.

ing machine, i mechanism, a

V spaced from said block and arranged for revolution around the same within a channeled partial ring secured to said frame,

and one or more gear wheels for revolving said ring, one of which is provided with a crank by which the ring may be revolved,

4. In a wire hoop applying and lock forming I ring secured to said frame, one or more gear wheels arranged upon the frame for revolving said ring, a shaft extending from one of said gear wheels, a shaft arranged parallel with said gear shaft, means for the simultaneous revolution of said shafts, a friction clutch pulley upon the second named shaft, a clutch flange for engaging the clutch face of said pulley, and a lever arranged Withineach reach .of an operator for engaging and disengaging the friction faces of said pulley and flange.

5. In a wire hoop applying and lock forming machine, a frame for supporting the mechanism, a longitudinally movable and revoluble conical block for supporting the article to be hooped, a wire of which to form a' hoop, means for winding the wire around the article to be hooped, and leaving the ends of the wire in close proximity and crossed, a hoop lock forming tool consisting of a block arranged to slide within a guide at right angles with the axial line of said conical block, a supporting standard, pivotally mounted in said sliding block and vertically arranged when at rest, a sleeve arranged upon said standard in a nearly horizontal position, a rod arranged to slide through said sleeve, wire gripping jaws mounted at one end of said rod, means for closing the jaws upon said crossed Wires after said rod is swung into .a vertical position nearly over the axial line of said conical block,-and a crank upon the outer end of the sliding rod by which said jaws may be given a half revolution thereby locking one wire end aroundthe other.

6. In a wire hoop applying and lock forming machine, a frame for supporting the mechanism, a longitudinally movable and revoluble conical block for supporting the article to be hooped mounted upon said frame, a reel upon said. frame adapted to hold wire thereon from which it may be un arranged to be slid within a guide toward and from the article to be hooped as the diameter of said article requires. 7-. In a wirelroop applying and lock forma frame for supporting the longitudinally movable and revoluble conical block for supporting the article to be hooped, mounted upon said frame, a lock forming tool arranged to slide in a horizontal plane at right angles with the axial line of said conical block, upon one side of said block, a wire delivery nozzle arranged to' slide in'the same plane uponthe opposite side of said block, and means for their simultaneous movement in opposite directions consisting of a disk mounted for revolution between said lock forming. tool and wire delivery. nozzle, a rod' connected to each tool and to opposite sides of said disk,

and a crank connected with the disk for moved toward the larger, a centrally arturning the same.

8. In a wire hoop applying machine, a block for supporting a ta ering article of wooden-ware, consisting o a shaft adapted to be revolved and to slide longitudinally thereof, two circular heads, one of which is the larger and is secured to the shaft and the other is adapted to slide thereon, a bead upon the outer circumference of the larger head, a plurality of slots around the larger head and through said head, a plurality of staves whose outerjsurface is curved outward transversely, a dependin tongue inside of each stave, one of whic is fitted to be received in a slot across said'bead, a rib longitudinally of and depending from each stave having a straight inner edge, a circular flange having a semicircular groove inside thereof around its outer edge adapted to fit over said bead and tongues, and to retain said tongues within said slots, means for securing the flange and head together, a plurality of slots corresponding in number and spacing with those in the larger head arranged around the smallei' one adapted to receive the depending rib of-the staves of such Width at its ends as will change the taper of said block when the smaller head is ranged flange spaced from the'hub of the smaller head outside thereof, a rod threaded through one of the heads and fixed from longitudinal movement in the other, a collar upon said rod each side of the centrally arranged flange, and an end to said rod adapted to receive a wrench by which it may be turned.

CHARLES A. LEE. Witnesses: GUs'rAv KALFAHS, C. M. ALBEE. 

